Shloka 6
Chapter 84: Brahmā’s Counsel on Tāraka, the Search for Agni, and the Genesis of Skanda
Kārttikeya
अपि चात्र पुरागीतां कथयिष्यामि तेडनघ
api cātra purāgītāṃ kathayiṣyāmi te 'naghā | niṣpāpa nareśa | asmin viṣaye tvāṃ purā-vṛttāntaṃ śrāvayāmi | ekadā parama-buddhimān śukadevaḥ nitya-karmānuṣṭhānaṃ kṛtvā pavitraḥ śuddha-cittaś ca san, ṛṣi-śreṣṭhaṃ pitaraṃ śrī-kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyanaṃ vyāsaṃ, yaḥ lokasya bhūta-bhaviṣyat pratyakṣa-darśī, praṇamya papraccha— “pitāḥ! sarveṣu yajñeṣu kaḥ yajñaḥ śreṣṭhatamo dṛśyate?”
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Bukod pa rito, O haring walang kasalanan, isasalaysay ko rito ang isang sinaunang tradisyon. Sa bagay na ito, ikukuwento ko sa iyo ang isang lumang pangyayari: minsan, ang lubhang marunong na si Śukadeva, matapos ganapin ang kanyang pang-araw-araw na mga ritwal at maging dalisay at malinaw ang isip, ay yumukod sa kanyang ama—si Śrī Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa, ang pinakadakila sa mga rishi, na sinasabing tuwirang nakakakita ng nagdaan at darating—at nagtanong: ‘Ama, sa lahat ng mga handog na yajña, alin ang kinikilalang pinakamataas?’”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage frames ethical-ritual inquiry as requiring inner and outer purity: one performs one’s daily duties, approaches a worthy teacher with humility, and then asks about the hierarchy of dharmic acts—here, which yajña is truly supreme.
Bhīṣma begins an ‘ancient account’ for the king: Śukadeva, after completing his daily observances, bows to his father Vyāsa—described as a seer of past and future—and asks him which sacrifice is considered the greatest among all sacrifices.